Fightto saveschool

Moves were being made in early 1985 to fight plans for the closure of Lecropt Primary School, near Bridge of Allan.

Proposals to shut the school, which dated back to 1728, had been included in Central Regional Council’s forthcoming budget.

Leading the fight were community councillors and Alliance regional councillor for Bridge of Allan Iain Macfarlane who said:“It’s a small school catering for 11 pupils but it provides a much-appreciated alternative for local children and has served families of agricultural workers for generations. The council will save very little by closing it.”

Community councillors pointed out that Bridge of Allan Primary might have to be extended to cater for pupils displaced by the closure of Lecropt. Such a move could turn out to be more expensive than retaining Lecropt.

Meanwhile, an increase in the spate of chimney fires in Central Region in the first half of 1984 was blamed on the Miners’Strike.

The 12-month dispute to avert mine closures began in March of that year and involved pitmen at Polmaise and collieries across the country. It was thought that the spate of chimney fires might have been caused by householders who, unable to obtain coal, had been burning other fuel or cheaper imported coal.

Speaking at a meeting of Central Regional Council’s Protective Services Committee, Councillor Douglas Wynn agreed and said trees in his area had also“taken a battering”.